Editorial of the Day (17th Jan): Davos Man and Global South

Context: The article discusses three significant summits – in Davos and Kampala – highlighting the changing landscape of global politics in 2024.

Three Significant Summits: An Overview

• Davos Summit: The annual Davos meeting reflects a realisation that globalism is being challenged by great power conflicts and economic nationalism.
  • The traditional globalist approach of the “Davos Man”, shaped by free movement and market efficiency since the 1990s, is under scrutiny.
  • The war in Ukraine and tensions with Russia and China have disrupted the move towards global integration.
• NAM and G77 Summits in Kampala: These summits focus on the collective interests of the Global South.
  • However, the enthusiasm for the Global South faces practical limitations in influencing global affairs.
  • The relevance of NAM and G77 is being overshadowed by regional groupings and newer entities like BRICS.

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Representation and Goals at Summits

• China and India’s Ministerial Representation: Both China and India are represented at the ministerial level at the summits in Davos, Switzerland, and Kampala, Uganda.
  • This high-level participation underscores the significance these nations place on the discussions and decisions made at these international forums.
• Objectives in Davos:
  • China: In Davos, China’s objective is to challenge and potentially revise the existing global economic order.
    • This reflects China’s broader ambition to reshape international relations and economic structures in a way that aligns with its interests and vision.
  • India: India’s focus in Davos contrasts with China’s. India aims to promote integration within the current global economic system and advocate for reforms.
    • This approach indicates India’s intention to work within the existing framework, seeking to improve and adapt it rather than overhaul it entirely.
  • Goals in Kampala (NAM and G77 Summits):
    • China: At the Kampala summits of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, China positions itself as an alternative to the US-led world order.
      • China’s engagement with these forums, despite not being a member, is part of its strategy to garner support from and exert influence over the Global South.
      • China’s initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI) are examples of its efforts to mobilise the Global South in support of a new, China-centric global order.
    • India: In contrast, India’s role in Kampala is to act as a bridge between the developed (North) and developing (South) worlds.
      • India seeks to leverage its historical leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement and its standing as a major developing economy to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the Global South and the developed nations.
      • India’s approach is more about finding common ground and working collaboratively within the existing global framework.

Broader Implications of These Goals:

• The differing objectives of China and India at these summits reflect their respective foreign policy strategies and their aspirations on the global stage.
• China’s assertive stance signals its readiness to challenge the status quo and assert its influence, particularly in the Global South.
• India’s approach is more conciliatory and reformist, aiming to enhance cooperation and promote gradual changes within the existing global systems.

The participation and goals of these two major Asian powers highlight the evolving dynamics of global politics and the shifting balances of power in the international arena.

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